'Santa Claus in Baghdad' too be screened in Mass., where it was filmed

Friday

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2008 at 11:54 PM

First, filmmaker Raouf Zaki transformed Framingham into war-torn Iraq. Now he's bringing his award-winning new short film, "Santa Claus in Baghdad," back to town for several pre-Christmas screenings.

Chris Bergeron

First, filmmaker Raouf Zaki transformed Framingham into war-torn Iraq. Now he's bringing his award-winning new short film, "Santa Claus in Baghdad," back to town for several pre-Christmas screenings.

For two weeks last summer the Egypt-born founder of RA Vision Productions shot "on a shoestring" his 40-minute movie at local sites including the Danforth Museum of Art and a vacant Southside warehouse which had been converted to resemble an Iraqi market with narrow streets and vegetable stalls.

Zaki said his film recounts "two unlinked acts of generosity that go around full circle to give viewers the gift of hope."

Adapted from Newton-native Elsa Marston's book, "Figs and Fate: Stories About Growing Up in the Arab World," it tells the story of 16-year-old Amal and her younger brother Bilal, who - though Muslims - get caught up in the spirit of Christmas in unpredictable yet ultimately uplifting ways.

Part O. Henry, part "Arabian Nights," Zaki's film tells of the idealistic Amal, whose name means "hope" in Arabic and who wants to give a respected teacher a book for a going away present, and her younger brother who thinks an uncle visiting from the U.S. is really Santa Claus.

"This film is about giving in a time of need," said Zaki who recently moved from Framingham to Holliston with his wife and two children. "'Santa Claus in Baghdad' dispels negative stereotypes of Iraqis and promotes a better understanding of their rich culture which has given so much to the world over the centuries."

In order to give his film an authentic Middle Eastern feel, Zaki traveled to Egypt last January to shoot street and background scenes which were then incorporated into the movie using special "green screen" techniques.

Zaki's Lebanon-born wife, Hana, worked on the movie as a casting agent and in other capacities. Their children, David, 12, and Justine, 11, have minor roles in the movie.

While shown last week at the Studio Cinema Theater in Belmont, the film had already been selected and shown as an official entry at the Rhode Island Film Festival, where it premiered in August, and the San Diego International Film Festival.

Zaki said it won first place for movies for youth from 12- to 18-years-old last month at the traveling Kids First! Film Festival.

Arriving just in time for the holiday season, "Santa Claus in Baghdad" will have four local screenings, all before Christmas, with three in Framingham and one in Wayland:

Zaki is hopeful "Santa Claus" and his earlier short film, "Just Your Average Arab," deflate stereotyped public images of Muslims and Arabs as religious zealots or anti-American sympathizers of terrorism.

"This film addresses the United States' relationship with the Middle East. I boil inside when the media shows Arabs as nuts or fanatics. That just furthers how disconnected we've become with each other," he said. "By making a movie about a Muslim family trying to celebrate a Christian holiday in Baghdad, I want to emphasize the commonality between Americans and Iraqis despite religious and cultural differences."

Hoping to root out stereotypes about Middle Eastern culture and religion, Zaki is launching a free online preview aimed at educators on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

"I hope to get it in every public and private school in the U.S.," he said.

Educators can sign up by visiting the movie's Web site, www.Santaclausinbaghdad.com. Schools and colleges can order the film at a reduced price of $40.

By his own account, Zaki doesn't fit prevailing stereotypes of a "typical" Middle Easterner.

Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, he's a coptic Christian who learned Arabic, French and English before coming to the U.S. at 17 to study. After graduating with a film degree from Boston University, he moved to Montreal to work for Canada's National Film Board. After moving to Framingham in 1998, Zaki founded his own company in a Tripp Street warehouse where he specializes in "all aspects of video production" for private and corporate clients.

While showing his movie recently in Washington, D.C., members of the Middle East Policy Council agreed to write a study guide as a classroom aid for teachers.

THE ESSENTIALS:

To learn more about Zaki or RA Vision Productions, or the order a copy of the film "Santa Claus in Baghdad," call 508-788-0221 or e-mail Zaki at filmmaker@rcn.com.